Flu

Our gut is filled with millions of bacteria that help us digest and process our food, but they also have an effect on our immune system. New research has shown that a particular gut microbe can prevent severe flu infection in mouse studies by breaking down compounds commonly found in black tea, red wine, and ...click here to read more

Your best defense against the flu this season is getting the flu shot and yet new numbers reveal that only 40 percent of Americans have received it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that the number of people who got a flu shot this year is very similar to last year’s tally. ...click here to read more

Flu season is here, and as you know, your number one defense against the virus is your annual flu shot. Last year’s flu vaccine was highly effective, but mind you, warmer temperatures of the previous winter kept the flu virus at bay as well. This year, the Farmer’s Almanac is calling for lower temperatures and ...click here to read more

Flu season is upon us, but are you prepared? Although the flu rates haven’t been that threatening as of yet, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be getting your annual flu shot. Lynnette Brammer from the CDC said, “The fact that flu activity hasn’t picked up dramatically yet means there is plenty of time for people ...click here to read more

Heart attack, stroke, and heart failure hospitalization risk may be reduced with flu vaccine in type 2 diabetics. Dr. Eszter Vamos and coauthors wrote, “In this large population-based study, influenza vaccination in people with type 2 diabetes was associated with reductions in rates of hospital admission for acute cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and in all-cause ...click here to read more

Unfortunately, summer can’t last forever, and that means the arrival of the cold and flu season. As early as October, you’ll start noticing more people around you sniffling, sneezing, and coughing. No one enjoys being sick, so it’s important to prevent cold and flu as much as possible. As a senior, your risk of contracting ...click here to read more

Flu vaccination is recommended as an effective preventative measure against the flu, yet many parents believe getting flu shots for their children is unnecessary. Lead author of the study Dr. Scott Field said, “The first and most common reason could encompass a belief that risk for contracting influenza is low in their family as well ...click here to read more

Although last year’s flu vaccine was the most successful yet, low vaccination rates last season have health officials worried for another low turnout this year, especially among the elderly. Dr. Tom Frieden, the CDC director, warned, “Flu is serious. Flu is unpredictable. Flu often gets not enough respect. If we could increase vaccination coverage in ...click here to read more

With the end of summer, the new season kicks in – the flu season. Even if it isn’t quite cold outside just yet, it’s a good time to start preparing yourself for the flu season ahead, and the best way to do that is with the flu shot. Although last flu season was considered quite ...click here to read more

Lyme disease and the flu (influenza) may appear similar in the beginning, but they take two different pathways as they progress. The flu is most common during the colder months – October to March – and Lyme disease hits its peak during the hot summer months. A zoonotic disease, meaning it is spread by animals ...click here to read more

Influenza (flu) and strep throat may seem like one and the same, but they are two very different illnesses and the primary distinction is the origin of the disease. The flu is caused by a virus and strep throat is caused by bacteria. Strep throat and influenza may also share some symptoms, but the key ...click here to read more

Distinguishing between the common cold and the flu (influenza) may be quite different as they do share many similar traits. Furthermore, a person can experience both a cold and the flu simultaneously, which can make diagnosis even more difficult. The best way to decipher between the common cold and flu is recognizing the differences in ...click here to read more

Influenza (flu) and pneumonia at first glance may appear the same, but there are distinct differences between the two along with different treatment methods that need to be considered in order to get over either illness. The flu is primarily caused by a strain of virus, and the flu vaccine is compiled of the different ...click here to read more

Norovirus and flu (influenza) are often mistaken for one another, but they are two very different illnesses. What could be fueling the confusion is that norovirus is often referred to as the stomach flu – but, in fact, there is no such thing as stomach flu. You see, the flu is a condition that affects ...click here to read more